GIFTS TO THE STATE LIBRARY

Since 1932 the Friends have presented the State Library of South Australia with over 750 gifts for its special collections. Many of these add significant value to the Library's records of South Australia's exploration and settlement. Others illuminate excellence in manuscripts, early and modern printed books, and children's books and games.

State Library staff suggest to us possible items for purchase and then we usually approve these suggestions before the staff proceed. The items are secured through national and international networks of specialists.

.... While the principal goal of our association is to support the State Library, that goal is reached by means which give pleasure, interest and sometimes even excitement to us as members. We not only present beautiful books to the Library, we also publish them. We not only read books, we have gone on literary pilgrimages to discover more about their authors. Alan Brissenden

To guide decision making, the Friends follow a principle set by the Friends of the Bodleian Library of Oxford University in 1925, not long before we were established in 1932. Like our UK colleagues, we acquire ’manuscripts and other unique pieces [including] books of exceptional rarity or beauty or interest‘ which would never be acquired as part of the the State Library’s normal operations.

Our gifts to the State Library between 1933 and 1992 are detailed in theFriends' 1993 book, A Richness of Gifts, which you can buy from theFriends' office.

Image (detail):The new game of virtue rewarded and vice punished [game] for the amusement of youth of both sexes / by T. Newton Dates/Publication Details London : Wm. Darton, [1818]. Donated by the Friends of the Library of South Australia.

Reproduction rights are owned by State Library of South Australia. This image may be printed or saved for personal research or study. Use for any other purpose requires permission from the State Library of South Australia. To request approval, complete the Permission to publish form.

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